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This blog documents the racing, training, & riding experiences of the participants of PWP

Pedaling with a Purpose

My name is Kristen Meshberg and I am a former category 1 bike racer. I competed nationally in both road and track. I am a USA Cycling Coach, and help individuals develop plans to achieve their goals. To survive the Chicago winter, I developed an indoor workout program called "Pedaling with a Purpose."

I now have various locations across the United States. To find out more about Pedaling with a Purpose or Coaching, email Kristen at: kmesh.pwp@gmail.com

Thursday, October 24, 2013

This is one of my favorite PWP stories! Regis, you are awesome! You better believe everyone from PWP is going to be rooting for you at Worlds!!!I sucked. I barely owned a proper bike. The closest I got to cycling was that I had a Belgian passport and I lived in Logan Square with the other hip kids with bikes. Oh, and I smoked like a russian submarine officer. Friends got me to join PWP...After year one, it motivated me to take on triathlons. Fuck it, why not. Pentathlons were a stretch, and I hate horse-riding, but I thought swimming and running were within reach. I used to run a lot, and I've never drowned. Why not. I had fun, I was hooked and got myself a proper bike (and the looks every triathlete gets when mingling with road cyclists). It's amazing the little things you a cyclist (at any level): cadence, position, and a really sour arse. After year two, I still smoked, I had now done a few triathlons, but I sucked a whole lot less. My cycling was my strong suit despite years of track and field. Go figure. That year, I qualified for nationals. Wow, what? This is good, and it's clearly thanks to some winter motivation with the PWP clan. I thought it's pretty cool that a little peer pressure from a few good friends can bring you a lot more than just bike skills and a sour behind. I had a new hobby and a newfound pride (still the looks form the road guys though).Then I quit smoking (about time), reduced my intake to a single Boston Cream, and got a little competitive. I punched through the 2012-2013 session, ran more, swam more, and scored the 4th best bike time at Chicago, transitioned faster than some of the pro's and didn't let one single mother-effer pass me at Nationals on the bike (hail to Kristen). And holy-mother-of-Jesus, I earned a spot at ITU World's after what was an awesome day of racing. PWP, it's been a long journey. Now let's make that Belgian passport proud on Team USA in Edmonton!!!